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East China Sea Facts & Worksheets

The East China Sea is an arm of the Pacific Ocean bordered by the Yellow Sea to the north, the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan to the south, Japan's Ryukyu and Kyushu islands to the east, and mainland China to the west.

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The East China Sea is an arm of the Pacific Ocean bordered by the Yellow Sea to the north, the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan to the south, Japan‘s Ryukyu and Kyushu islands to the east, and mainland China to the west.

See the fact file below for more information on the East China Sea or you can download our 27-page East China Sea worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOGRAPHY

  • The East China Sea is roughly 482,000 square miles in size and is mainly shallow; nearly three-fourths of the sea is less than 650 feet (200 meters) deep, with an average depth of 1,145 feet.
  • There are two islands in the sea, Diaoyu Islands and Tong Island, as well as three reefs, Socotra Rock, Hupijiao Rock, and Yajiao Rock.
  • Its climate is dominated by the monsoon, a wind caused by differential heating between land and water.
  • The Yangtze River, the third longest in the world, is the longest river in China and the largest river that flows into the China Sea.

HISTORY

  • During the 19th century, the sea was known in French as the Mer de Corée (Sea of Korea). 
  • It was one of East Asia’s three major seas, the other two being the Mer du Japon (Sea of Japan) to the north and the Mer de Chine (Sea of China, now the West Philippine Sea) to the south.
  • Until World War II, the East China Sea was known by the Japanese as the East Shina Sea. It wasn’t until 2004 that the Japanese Foreign Ministry officially changed the name to the East China Sea.
  • The East China Sea, according to ancient Chinese geography, is one of the Four Seas, the body of water east of the mainland. The Four Seas is a metaphor in Chinese literature for China’s borders. 
  • In Chinese Mythology, the East Sea is the domain of Ao Guang, the “Donghai Longwang,” or “the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea,” who controls its storms and tides. The Dragon King is said to reside at the bottom of the sea in a large Dragon Palace, the “Donghai Longgong.”

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

  • The East China Sea is a highly productive marine region where China, Japan, and North and South Korea actively fish. Small local boats do most of the fishing. The primary resources harvested are tuna, mackerel, shrimp, sardines, milkfish, sea bream, croakers, shellfish, and seaweed.
  • Aside from being the local shipping line of ports in and out of China and Korea, the East China Sea also serves as the primary shipping route from the West Philippine Sea to Japanese and other North Pacific ports. The East China Sea’s main ports are Shanghai in China, Nagasaki in Japan, and Chi-lung in Taiwan.
  • Petroleum and natural gas deposits were discovered underneath the continental shelf of the sea.
  • In 2013, China became the world’s second-largest net oil importer.
  • Natural gas imports have also increased in recent years, with China becoming a net importer of natural gas for the first time in nearly two decades in 2007.

MARINE TREASURES

  • The Yangtze River, and other rivers in China, such as the Qiantang, flow into the East China Sea. These freshwater resources are biologically diverse, highly productive and include fishery.

TERRITORIAL DISPUTES

  • China and Japan claim sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands (Senkakus in Japanese), located about 120 nautical miles southwest of Okinawa.
  • The Diaoyu Islands are made up of five uninhabited islets and three barren rocks. 
  • In 1969, a United Nations Committee report indicated the possibility of large hydrocarbon deposits in the waters surrounding the Island. Both the PRC and Taiwan opposed the signing of the Okinawa Reversion Treaty.
  • In 2002, the Japanese government began leasing the islands from private Japanese owners, causing China to object. In September 2012, the Japanese government officially announced a deal to buy the islands, sparking a wave of protests across China.
  • Tensions between China and Japan over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands are rising as both countries improve their regional military capabilities, particularly their radar and missile systems.
  • The East China Sea has been at the center of a dispute between China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea over their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
  • The Islands’ features are controlled and administered by Japan. However, China and Taiwan have formally incorporated them into their administrative systems.

MARITIME DISPUTES

September 2012

  • Taiwan is believed to have sent around 100 fishing boats and coast guard ships, heightening tensions surrounding a group of islands that has already sparked a diplomatic standoff between China and Japan.
  • Taiwan protests against Japan’s purchase of an uninhabited archipelago off China’s eastern coast.
  • The purchase of the islands by Japan from a private owner has already been condemned in Beijing, which claims China discovered the islands in the 14th century. Taiwan also believes it has a claim and is embroiled in a long-running dispute with Japan over fishing rights in the region.
  • The Japanese coast guard used water cannons to chase away the Taiwanese flotilla. The Taiwanese entry came a day after Chinese vessels conducted surveillance in the East China Sea.
  • The Chinese government has stated that it will use the talks to press for a peaceful resolution.
  • The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Kei said, “China will urge Japan to correct their mistakes and make efforts to improve ties.” 

November 2013

  • China’s Ministry of Defense announced the establishment of an East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, which requires all non-commercial air traffic to submit flight plans before entering the region, which includes the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. 
  • China declared that it may take military action against aircraft flying near the islands, bringing the maritime dispute into the realm of its airspace.
  • South Korea, the United States, and Japan responded by dispatching military aircraft to patrol the East China Sea.

April 2014

  • Chinese officials have clarified that they oppose a heightened U.S. presence in the sea. 
  • As such, the U. S. signed a treaty with one of many Asian countries embroiled in territorial disputes with China, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, namely the Philippines.
  • The Philippines has long sought additional assistance in its territorial disputes with China over areas such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. 
  • The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement allows the U.S. to reassert its presence in the region and monitor its interests, particularly freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.
  • President Obama affirmed that the agreement was not meant to contain China while expressing solidarity with Manila as it seeks international arbitration over the disputed West Philippine Sea islands. 
  • The resolution of the East China Sea maritime and territorial disputes is ultimately a question of political will. As maritime claims become increasingly linked to sovereignty, security, and historical grievances, states find it more difficult to surrender their claims.

East China Sea Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the East China Sea across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the East China Sea, which is an arm of the Pacific Ocean bordered by the Yellow Sea to the north, the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan to the south, Japan’s Ryukyu and Kyushu islands to the east, and mainland China to the west.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. East China Sea Facts 
  2. I Sea My Neighbors
  3. Star Me Up
  4. The Sea Wonders
  5. Econo-Me
  6. News Flash
  7. Fill in the Facts
  8. Diaoyu Eye-lands
  9. Breaking the News
  10. Conflict Resolution
  11. My Point of View

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the East China Sea known for?

The East China Sea is where people can move goods in and out of Chinese and Korean ports. This route is also vital for vessels that want to go from the South China Sea to Japanese and North Pacific destinations. China, Japan, and Taiwan are significant seaports in the East China Sea. These three locations form crucial parts of this dynamic maritime network.

Why is it called the East Sea?

The Koreans call the body of water the “East Sea” because it is located east of Korea. The Japanese call it the “Sea of Japan” because, without the Japanese Archipelago, the sea would not exist.

Is the East China Sea an ocean?

As an extension of the Western Pacific Ocean, the East China Sea lies off East China’s coast and is a renowned maritime area.

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Link will appear as East China Sea Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 8, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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